Hydraulic coupling or gear



2 Sheets-Sheet l f m \\\\\\\\\\\\M\ c w mmmmwl/ we Aug. 2o, 1935..

H..SINCLAIR HYDRAULIC COUPLING OR GEAR Filed July 20, 1933' Aug. 20, 1935.' H. slNcLAlR HYDRAULIC COUPLING 0R GEAR Filed July 20, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

www@

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlc v HYDRAULIC COUPLING OR GEAR Harold Sinclair, Surbiton Hill, England Application July 20, 1933, Serial No. 681,321 In Great Britain August 3, 1932 14 Claims.

The' present invention relates4 to hydraulic couplings or gears of the kinetic type, that is to say of the type having an impeller, a runner and auid circulating between the impeller and runner and serving to couple them together.

It is common practice to construct Vulcan hydraulic couplings of this type in such a way as to permit some relative lateral and angular movement to take ,place between the driving and driven shafts, thus allowing misalignment to occur without risk of the shafts binding in their bearings. plings so constructed are of Vthe type adapted to be filled and emptied while they are running Aand are housed within fixed sheet steel casings. the driving and driven shafts being carried in independent external bearings which take the hydraulic thrust due to the coupling, so that it y is possible to use labyrinth type glands which permit the required relative movements of the 'driving and driven shafts.

In other examples, such as Vulcan-Sinclair couplings of' the'so-'called scoop tube type adapted to work with variable liquid content, as. described in my Patent No. 1,859,607, the running clearances throughot are large enough to permit of slight lateral and angular misalignment between the impeller andrunner axes, and the 'internal thrust bearings-.used are of such design as to take up the hydraulic thrust under these working conditions. United States Patent 1,389,562 also discloses a coupling of the kinetic type which is provided with an impeller member and a runner member so mounted as to be capable of slight angular. and lateral deviation during operation of the coupling. l With Vulcan couplings which work with a 'substantially constant quantityof liquid, for example, `the well known fluid iiy wheel-her`e .inafter referred to as the constant-nlling ltype-according to my British Patent No. 285,970, the problem is rather different from 'when the iilling is variable, because the gland must be designed to be substantially oil tight both when rotating and .whenV stationary.

Itisf'an object of the present invention to4 f provide improved means for allowing relative movement to' take place, both laterally and angularly, between the axes of the impeller and runy ner shafts, whilst limiting the relative axial `movement and taking: up all hydraulic thrust Within the coupling, the invention being especially but not exclusively applicable to hydraulic couplings of the constant-fillingtype.

:According to the Fpresent invention there is` provided within a hydraulic coupling or gear of the kinetic type and between the driving and driven parts thereof .a connection adapted to permit relative rotation between the driving and driven shafts and to transmit axial thrusts in 5 both directions between the impeiler and runner elements, and this connection is deformable, that is to say, it is either of flexible material or of articulated construction, so as to permit relative movement of the axes of said elements both angularly and laterally. The connection preferably consists of a relatively thin and exible rod which may be of spring steel, fixed directly or by the agency of an intermediate member to one of the elements and *coupled to the other element through a thrust bearing adapted to take thrust in both axial directions. The rod, by its flexibility, permits the required lateral and angular displacements of the axes of the elements and yet is capable of transmitting thrust 20 v in both directions.

Thus with the arrangement according to the present invention, all hydraulic thrust is taken up in. both directions inside the coupling and v plings since suiiicient flexibility is provided by 30 the improved hydraulic coupling itself.

The gland permitting the required lateral and angular movement of the axes of the elements (together with slight axial movement to accommodate pressure and temperature effects) may be of the diaphragm type comprising bearing surfaces lying in aplane substantially normal to the said axes (so that slight lateral -and angular movement between the axes does not materially affect oil-tightness) and preferably so arranged that the bearing pressure between the said surfaces increases as the uid pressure within th coupling increases.

'I'he invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in 45 which Fig. 1 is a sectional side 'elevation vof part of one form of my improved coupling. i

Fig.. 2 is a diagrammatic part-sectional side elevation of part of the power-transmission system of an intemal-combustion engine driven locomotive comprising ahydraulic coupling not provided with the improvement'introduced by the presentinvention.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a 55 Patent N0'. 1,963,720.

Toa driving shaft I is bolted a vaned impeller element 2 tothe periphery of which is bolteda dished casing 3 enclosing a vaned runner element lil. Areservoir chamber 5 is formed integral with vthe-runner 4, the runner and reservoir together forming a driven member having a boss 6 secured Y by a nut 1 and a key 8 to a short hollow driven shaft 9 which projects throughja hole I0 in the 'casing' 3 andterminates in a coupling ange II.

A clearance is provided between the shaft 9 and the casing 3 suiicient to permit a limited angular and lateral deviation of the runner' and impeller axes; in the example shown the coupling has an over-all diameter of about 2 ft. and this clearance may be of the order of '116 in. The radial clear- I ances between the impeller and the runner at a:

and y are-'about if in., and the axial clearance at z may be about 1/8 in.

The bo're of the driven shaft 9 is reduced at its outer end andi's ',tapped'to receive the threaded end of a rod I2 of spring steel which projects Ainto the coupling, being secured by a locknut I3.

The inner end ofthe rod I2, is i'lxed by means of a threaded adaptor I4 and a'nut I5 to the inner race I6 of a ball bearing I1 adapted to take thrust in both directions, the outer two-part race I9 of this bearing being secured by a threaded 'plug I9 within the boss 20 of the impeller 2.

A ring 2l which is preferably of hardened steel is attached tothe casing 3 surrounding the hole III, land theouter surface of this ring is ground "at 22 normal to the axis of the impeller. The

side of the flange II nearer the casing 3 is provided with a recess 23 within which is fixed a ilexL ible annular diaphragm 24 which may beof steel about 0.010 in. thick. A fluid-tight joint between I l the diaphragm and the flange is secured by rolling a lip 25 on the flange over a packing ring 26 placed against the diaphragm. To the inner edge of the diaphragm is fixed, by a similar rolled joint,

a ring 2'I,v which may be of bronze, and which is provided with a ground face 28 adapted to bear.

evenly against the ground face22 of the ring 2l on the casing 3. Pressure within the coupling; acts on the side of the diaphragm remotel from the casing and thus serves to press the ground face 2 9 against the face 22 and thus to maintain or4 increase the resistance to leakage as the internal pressure rises. l

AThe flexible permits both angular and lateral movement of the driven shaft 9 relatively .to the driving shaft I, whilst taking up all hydraulic thrust loads within the coupling, and it is sufficiently ilexible to prevent the transfer of 'material journal load between the driving and driven shafts. The required movements are in practice smallv and the flexible diaphragm gland ensures that,` :forA such movements, the ground surfaces remain in good contact with one another, thus serving as a liquid-tight gland. A gland of thiskind will not, however. remain liquiditight if undue axial rod I2 connecting the runner 4 with the ball thrust bearing on the impeller 2 movement (for example more than 0.01 in.) takes place between the driving and driven elements.

If this type of gland is used therefore, the exible connection between these elements should be arranged to prevent relative axial movement between the impeller and runner in excess of the above mentioned amount. f

However, if greater freedom for axial movement is desired, any other suitable form of gland may be used. l

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, an articulated connection is provided between the impeller 2 and the runner 4'. It takes the form of a relatively rigid rod I2' coupled to the drivingy and driven parts of the coupling by self-aligning ball bearings I1' and 4I respectively, which transmit thrust in both directions while permitting angular deviation of the rod I2' relative to the driving and driven parts. 'I'he outer race of the bearing I1' is securedto the impeller 2' by a threaded plug I9', and the inner race is held against a shoulder 40 on the rodI2 bya nut |55",- I

The outer race of the bearing 4I is secured to' the flanged end II' of the hollow shaft 9' by -a threaded plug 44, the inner race being held againsta shoulder 42 on the rod I2 by a nut 43. The coupling is otherwise `similar to that shown in Fig. 1.

The coupling described with reference to Fig. 1 is particularly suitable for use between internal combustion engines and change-speed gear boxes on locomotives, railcars, automobiles, and cranes,

' and also between portable engines and air :com-

pressors and on 'all kinds of'machinery where msalignment of the shafts is .liableto arise in service. j f

For example, in the locomotive transmission system shown in Fig. 2, the engine 30 isv connected to a change-speed gear box 3l by a hydraulic coupling 32 of the kind having internal journal bearings 39 and 33' locating the runner 4 relatively to the impeller 2', and a Starling-box gland 34, the input shaft 35 of the gear box 9i being carried in two or more bearings and thus being self -supporting. With such an arrangement it has been found ,desirable to provide a bearing such as 36 which serves to maintain the driven shaft 9 ofthe hy- 'draulic coupling accurately aligned with the driving shaft I, this additional bearing being convenf -iently carried in a housing 31 fixed to a sub-frame 99 which carries the eng-lne 3 0, and also to pro- 'vide one or more mechanical flexible couplings (one being shown in Fig. 2 and denoted by 39) which permit both. angular and lateral deviation of the axis of` the gear box input shaft relative to the axis-ofthe hydraulic coupling 32.

Where my improved hydraulic coupling is used in4 a correspondingV arrangement, the additional bearing 36, the subframe 39, and the mechanical flexible coupling 39, may be omitted withoutinconl venience, as shown in Fig. 3. With this improved arrangement the driven shaftv of the hydraulic coupling-is rigidly connected, for example by the flange coupling I I ,to the input shaft 35' of the gear `box 3|. Nevertheless the hydraulic coupling permits relative movemnt of the engine and gear box, due for example to distortion of the locomotive frame, and the novel connection within the couplingensures that the impeller and runner are Y riot moved out of their proper longitudinal relationship as a'result of thrust loads due either to the action of the coupling liquid or to the engine or gearing. v

I claim:

,1. A hydraulic power transmitterof the kinetic type comprising a rotatable drivingpart, a'rotat- 75 y posed within said transmitter and adapted to per-l a bearingwnich is adapted to take thrusts in bothv able driven part, and a rotatable exible connection between said parts, said connection being disposed within said transmitter and being adapted to permit relative rotation of said parts, to transmit axial thrusts in both directions between said parts, and to permit relative movement of the axes of said parts both angularly and laterally.

2. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kinetic type comprising arotatable driving part, a rotatable driven part, and a rotatable fiexible connection-betweensaid parts, said transmitter being of the kind-that operates with a substantially constant liquid content, and said connection being dismit relative rotation ofA said driving and driven parts, to transmit axial thrusts in both'directions between said parts, and to permit relative movement of the axes of said parts both angularly and laterally.l f 3. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kinetic type, comprising a rotatable driving part, a rotatable driven part, said parts having radial and axial clearances permitting relative movement ofthe axes thereof both angularly and-laterallya bearing capable of transmitting thrust Iin both directions and having two elements one of which is rigidly attached to one of said transmitter'parts,

and rotatable ,means connecting the other of said bearing elements to the other of said transmitter parts, while permitting radial displacement of said bearing relative to said other transmitter part.

4. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kinetic typel comprising a rotatable driving part, a rotatable driven part, the axes of said parts being capaie of both angular and lateral relative movement, and a exible rod rigidly connected to one of said parts and coupled to the other of vsaid parts by a bearing which is adapted to take thrusts in both directions.

5. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kinetic Ytype lcomprising two relatively. rotatable vaned elements wherein the working liquid operates, a rotatable fiexible connection between said elements, which is disposed within said transmitter a and which is adapted to permit relative movement of the axes of said elements both angularly and laterally while `transmitting axial thrusts in both directions between said elements, and a flexible gland arranged to prevent leakage of working liquid between said elements. s

6. A hydraulic coupling comprising a driving part having a driving shaft and a, vaned impener 'element flxedther'eto, a driven part having a.

driven shaft and a vaned runner element fixed thereto, said impellerand runner elements being juxtaposed to form an annular working circuit, and a rotatable flexible connection between said driving and driven parts, said connection being disposed within said coupling and adapted to permit relative rotation of said driving and driven shafts, totransmit axial thrusts in both directions between said impeller and runnenelements, and

. to permitv relative movement of the axes of said A and a flexible rod rigidly connected to one of said parts and coupled to the other of said parts by directions.

8. A hydraulic coupling comprising a'driving part having a driving shaft and a vaned im- Y peller element fixed thereto, a driven part having a driven shaft and a vaned runner element flxed thereto, said impeller and runner elements being juxtaposed to form an annular working circuit,

a casing fixed to one of said vaned elements, en- V closing the other of said vaned elements, and

having an aperture accommodating the shafty to4 which is fixed said other vaned eiement,said cou` pling. parts having radial and axial clearances' permitting relative movement of their axes both angularly and laterally, a diaphragm gland arranged to prevent leakage at said. aperture, and a rotatable flexible connection between said driving and driven parts, said connection being disl and driven parts, and a rotatable flexible connection disposed within the coupling. adapted to permit relative rotation of said parts, to transmit axial thrusts in both directions between said parts, and to permit relative movement of the axes of said parts both angularly and laterally.

l0. In a power transmission system comprising a driving machine and a' driven machine so mounted as to be substantially aligned but liable to misalignment, the provision of a hydraulic 'power transmitter of they kinetic type having a vaned impeller element rigidly connected to the shaft oi. the driving machine, a vaned runner element rigidly connected to the input shaft ofthe driven machine, and a deformable connection between said elements, said connection being disposed Within said transmitter, including a bearing capable of transmitting axial thrusts in both directions, and permitting relative movement of the axes of said shafts both angularly and laterally.

11. In a power transmission system comprising a driving machine and a driven machine so mounted/as to be substantially aligned but liable to misalignment, the provision of a'hydraulic cou pling of the kinetictype having a vaned impeller element rigidly connected to the shaft of the ldriving machine, a vaned runner element rigidly connected to the input shaft of the driven machine, a casing fixed to one of said coupling elements, enclosing the other of said elements',

and sealed by means of a diaphragm gland with respect to the shaft to which said other element is connected, and a rotatable flexible connection disposed within said coupling and adapted to permit relative rotation of said impeller and runner elements and relative movement of the axes of vsaid shafts both angularly and laterally and to transmit axial thrusts inboth directions between said elements in such manner as to limit longitudinal relative movement of said'elements.,

12. A hydraulic power transmitter of the kinetic typecomprising a rotatable driving part, a rotatable driven part, and a rotatable rod connected between, and 4substantially co-axial with -said parts, and capable of displacement relative.

to both of said parts so as to permit the axis of one of said parts to move, both angular-ly, and laterally, relatively to the axis of the other of 5 said parts, said rod being coupled to at least one of said parts by a bearing which serves-to transmit axial thrusts in both directions between said parts while permitting relative rotation thereof.

13. A hydraulic power transmitter of the lo kinetic, type comprising a rotatable driving part, a

rotatable driven part, and a rotatable articulated connection between said parts, said connection being disposed within said transmitter, and in- `cluding a bearing capable o'f transmitting axial type and or the kind that operates with a. sub-,z

stantially constant liquid content, comprising a rotatable driving part, a rotatable driven part, and a deformable connection between said parts,-

' said connection being disposed within said transmitter, including/a bearing capable of transmitting axial thrusts in both directions, and permitting relative movement of the aiis of said parts both angularly and laterally.

` HAROLD BINCLAIR. 

